FROM THIS EPISODE

At a public hearing today, Rupert Murdoch apologized, denied previous knowledge and blamed subordinates for the cell phone-hacking and bribery scandal rocking Britain's political elite. We hear about the testimony and the protester who threw shaving cream at Murdoch's face. Also, a bipartisan debt deal develops in the Senate, and the collapse of Borders. Bad management by a single company or bad news for an entire industry?

Banner image: A man wears a giant puppet head of News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch as he protests outside Parliament on July 19, 2011 in London, England. Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Even before House Republicans took up their so-called "Cut, Cap and Balance" budget plan today, the Obama White House portrayed it as reckless. A new plan from the Senate, which includes new revenue, is getting a better reception. Speaking to reporters, President Obama endorsed the deficit reduction plan put forward by the so-called "Gang of Six." Dan Friedman covers the Senate for the National Journal.

Britain's 80-year old press lord, Rupert Murdoch, and his son, James, answered questions from members of Parliament today for almost three hours, saying that phone hacking and bribing police officers are wrong. Both denied knowing that News Corp policies were broken so often and blamed subordinates they accused of betraying them and their company. At one point, a protester managed to throw a small amount of shaving cream in the elder Murdoch's face. We hear about the substance and the drama as the scandal develops.

Borders will liquidate its assets and close all 399 of its bookstores in order to pay off its creditors. The creditors include Random House, Simon & Schuster and other publishers. Where to they sell their products now? Chris Moran is Senior Editor of Consumerist.com, an online consumer blog published by Consumers Union.